Real Madrid announce £51.8m deal for Chelsea's Cucurella

Cucurella won the Conference League and Club World Cup at Chelsea

Real Madrid have announced the £51.8m signing of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella on a six-year deal.

The 27-year-old is currently with Spain at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but an agreement - worth £47.5m with a further £4.3m in add-ons - was struck on Sunday before the formal announcement on Monday.

Since president Florentino Perez was re-elected and appointed Jose Mourinho as manager, Real are understood to also be targeting Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries, while France defender Ibrahima Konate is set to join after leaving Liverpool.

Cucurella, who joined Chelsea for £63m from Brighton in 2022, was understood to have been keen to return to Spain, having come through Barcelona’s academy. He had been linked with Atletico Madrid and a move back to Barcelona.

The Catalan also gave an interview during the March international break criticising Chelsea’s hierarchy following Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure.

He was part of a core group of Spanish-speaking players who were frustrated by the situation and struggled to perform under Maresca’s successor, Liam Rosenior.

Cucurella had three years left on his contract, despite agreeing improved terms without an extension last season, which is likely to have played a part in Chelsea’s decision to accept the offer.

Rosenior was eventually sacked, with Chelsea finishing 10th and failing to qualify for Europe despite the temporary appointment of Calum McFarlane as caretaker manager.

Former Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has since been appointed as the club’s permanent manager for the 2026-27 campaign.

Amorim a leading contender for AC Milan job

Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has emerged as a leading contender for the AC Milan manager’s job.

The Portuguese has been out of work since being sacked by United in January after a torrid 14 months in charge.

Sources close to the former Sporting boss had previously distanced the 41-year-old from a return to Benfica, the club he spent six years with as a player, making 154 appearances.

While there is no agreement in place, there have been conversations between Milan and Amorim’s representatives and he is high on their list of candidates to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was dismissed in May after failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Milan had been nine points clear of fifth place when they beat rivals Inter in March, but then won just three of their final 10 games, picking up 10 points to eventually finish a point behind Como, who snatched the final Champions League spot on the last day.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino has also been linked with the vacancy, as has Oliver Glasner, who left Crystal Palace following their Uefa Conference League final victory over Rayo Vallecano.

However, another former Manchester United boss who had been linked with the Milan job is out of the running.

Ralf Rangnick, who managed the Old Trafford club from 2021 to 2022 before taking charge of Austria, has extended his contract with the nation to 2028.

If Amorim took over, he would face his old club in pre-season, with AC Milan due to face United in Wroclaw, Poland on 15 August, a week before the Premier League begins.

Fulham in advanced talks to appoint Arbeloa as Silva's replacement

Fulham are in advanced talks to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as a replacement for outgoing manager Marco Silva.

Silva spent five years in charge at Craven Cottage but has opted to leave for Portuguese giants Benfica after they lost Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.

Arbeloa, 43, was in charge at Madrid at the end of last season on an interim basis, having replaced incoming Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso midway through the campaign.

He is now the lead contender for the role in west London.

Talks are ongoing and, while a full agreement has not been reached, the club are working towards the expectation that Arbeloa will be their next boss.

Arbeloa spent his entire coaching career at Madrid, working his way up from the youth teams to the interim position last season.

As a player, he had two spells at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and also played in the Premier League for both Liverpool and West Ham.

The Cottagers are also known to have held talks with Kieran McKenna, but it would have cost £8m to release him from his contract at Ipswich Town. He has since departed the club, saying he wanted a break to spend time with his family.

Fulham finished 11th in the Premier League last season.

Cozier-Duberry hits crossroads at Brighton

Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry faces a crossroads in his career this summer after a successful loan spell at Bolton.

The 21-year-old was nominated for the EFL and PFA Player of the Season awards and was named in the team of the season as Bolton earned promotion to the Championship via the play-offs.

With two years remaining on his contract, discussions have already begun over his long-term future.

There is a possibility the former Arsenal player, who joined Brighton in 2024, could remain at the Amex Stadium on a new deal, stay under his current terms, or leave on a permanent transfer. However, it remains early in the process.

Brighton are expected to have more opportunities to offer minutes to players next season with Conference League involvement, which could allow him to take on a cup role and feature initially as an impact substitute in the Premier League.

Yet, there remains a chance he could leave permanently. His loan spell - in which he recorded nine goals and 13 assists in 37 League One appearances - has attracted interest from clubs in England and abroad.

There is much to resolve for Cozier-Duberry as he hits a crossroads in his development this summer. He is an ambitious player but one at a club that is always active in the transfer market.

Crystal Palace close to appointing Sage as manager

Pierre Sage won the Coupe de France with Lens last season.

Crystal Palace are close to finalising a deal for Lens manager Pierre Sage to become their new head coach.

BBC Sport previously reported that Palace were in talks with the 47-year-old Frenchman as they look to replace Oliver Glasner, who left the Premier League club at the end of last season.

Palace are now putting the finishing touches on a financial package that will accelerate his departure from the French club to take the reins in south London.

Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and led them to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and the club’s first Coupe de France triumph in their 120-year history.

Palace had been keen on a move for former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola but he signed a two-year deal with Liverpool earlier this month.

The Eagles also discussed Coventry manager Frank Lampard, former Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and ex-Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Everton head coach Sean Dyche as alternative options.

However, Sage’s style of football is likely to appeal to supporters and the Frenchman’s English is also understood to be at a good level which will not hinder him once he arrives at Selhurst Park.

Palace’s Uefa Conference League triumph means they will play Europa League football next season, but they face a tricky summer ahead.

The future of France forward Jean-Philippe Mateta yet to be resolved as he enters the final year of his contract and England midfielder Adam Wharton has linked with several other Premier League clubs.

Palace have also offered a new deal to midfielder Daichi Kamada with the Japan international’s deal expiring at the end of the last campaign.